Mind Your Own Business

 (2 Thessalonians 3:11) "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies."  (1 Timothy 5:13) "And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention."  (2 Thessalonians 3:11) "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies."  (1 Timothy 5:13) "And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention."

I. Your Goals  1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ●Make it your goal to live a quiet life ●Minding your own business ●Working with your hands ●Respect of unbelievers  1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ●Make it your goal to live a quiet life ●Minding your own business ●Working with your hands ●Respect of unbelievers

 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life ●Most often ambition to lead a busy life  Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life ●Most often ambition to lead a busy life

“Tools of the devil are noise, hurry, and busyness.”

 The drive for busyness ●Success ●Achievement – self worth ●Societal peer pressure ●Survival ●Proverbs 23:4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.  The drive for busyness ●Success ●Achievement – self worth ●Societal peer pressure ●Survival ●Proverbs 23:4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.

 Charles E. Hummel – Tyranny of the Urgent – “There is a constant tension between the important and the urgent. The important rarely must be done today. We become slaves to the urgent”

“If you find yourself continually oiling squeaky wheels, you can be sure that you’ve lost your bearings”

 1 Timothy 2:1-4 ●Pray for all leaders ●So we can live quiet and peaceful lives ●Marked by godliness and dignity ●Pleases God who wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth  1 Timothy 2:1-4 ●Pray for all leaders ●So we can live quiet and peaceful lives ●Marked by godliness and dignity ●Pleases God who wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth

II. Knowing Your Business  Luke 2:41-52

●Jesus at 12 years old knows his business  (Luke 2:49 KJV) “…I must be about my Father's business" ●Jesus at 12 years old knows his business  (Luke 2:49 KJV) “…I must be about my Father's business"

 (Luke 19:13) ""And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business with this until I come back.'“  Luke 19: ●Well done – entrusted with more ●Wicked servant – even what he has is taken from him  (Luke 19:13) ""And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business with this until I come back.'“  Luke 19: ●Well done – entrusted with more ●Wicked servant – even what he has is taken from him

 Your Business ●Has to do with the talents given you ●Evaluation of the talents ●Has to do with the steps the Lord has ordered for you  Your Business ●Has to do with the talents given you ●Evaluation of the talents ●Has to do with the steps the Lord has ordered for you

 Psalms 37: The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 24Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.  Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.  Psalms 139:16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  Psalms 37: The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 24Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.  Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.  Psalms 139:16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

 Jesus discerned his steps through communion with the father – so that he could say, I do nothing but what I see my father doing ●Caused him to sometimes walk away from the crowds ●Lets draw away to a quiet place  Jesus discerned his steps through communion with the father – so that he could say, I do nothing but what I see my father doing ●Caused him to sometimes walk away from the crowds ●Lets draw away to a quiet place

 Learning to say “No”  We are given the directive from Matthew 6:33 – seek first the kingdom of God  Learning to say “No”  We are given the directive from Matthew 6:33 – seek first the kingdom of God

III. Business Busters  Romans 12:11 "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;“  Proverbs 18:9 "He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.“  Matthew 25:26 – wicked lazy slave  Romans 12:11 "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;“  Proverbs 18:9 "He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.“  Matthew 25:26 – wicked lazy slave

Biblical Tensions That Keep Us In Tune Biblical Truth Biblical Truth Biblical Truth Biblical Truth Error Balance

Biblical Tensions That Keep Us In Tune Peaceful And Quiet Peaceful And Quiet Minding Your Business Minding Your Business Sloth Busyness Balance

Interaction Time  Where are you on the Biblical Balance Tension Line of living a quiet and peaceable life and minding your own business?  What adjustments do you need to make to strike a balance? What are the sloth-type time wasters? What are the busyness-type peace and quiet destroyers (the urgent, the squeaky wheels)?  How do you see yourself gaining more respect of unbelievers because of your life-style?  Where are you on the Biblical Balance Tension Line of living a quiet and peaceable life and minding your own business?  What adjustments do you need to make to strike a balance? What are the sloth-type time wasters? What are the busyness-type peace and quiet destroyers (the urgent, the squeaky wheels)?  How do you see yourself gaining more respect of unbelievers because of your life-style?

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